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SPECIES 2. OJRIOLUS MIUTaTUS.&*
                  ORCHARD ORIOLE.
                        [Plate IV.]
Bastard Baltimore, CATESIBY, i, 49.-Le Baltimore batard, BTF-
  FON, iii, 233. P1. eai. 506.-Oriolus spurilus, GMEL. Syst. I, p.
  389.-LATH. Syn. ii, p. 433, 20, p. 437, 24.-BARTRAM, P. 290.
  -PEALE'S JXUSeuM, JNO. 1508.
  THERE are no circumstances, relating to birds, which tend
so much to render their history obscure and perplexing, as the
various changes of colour which many of them undergo. These
changes are in some cases periodical, in others progressive; and
are frequently so extraordinary, that, unless the naturalist has
resided for years in the country where the birds inhabit, and
has examined them at almost every season, he is extremely lia-
ble to be mistaken and imposed on by their novel appearance.
Numerous instances of this kind might be cited, from the pages
of European writers, in which the same bird has been described
two, three, and even four different times, by the same person;
and each time as a different kind. The species we are now about
to examine is a remarkable example of this; and as it has never
to my knowledge been either accurately figured or described, I
have devoted one plate to the elucidation of its history.
  The Count de Buffon, in introducing what he supposed to be
the male of this bird, but which appears evidently to have been
the female of the Baltimore Oriole, makes the following obser-
  * 0. Spurius LiNN. which name must be adopted. Icterus mninor spurius,
BRISS. II, ill, pi. 10,fig. 3.-Carouge de Cayenne, BUFF. Pl. Ent. 607, fig.
1,
(adult male.) Carouge du Cap de bonne Esp~rancc, BUFF. PI. Ent. 607, jig,
2,
(female.)  AIele a gorge noire de St. Dontitigue, BUFF, I. Ent. 559, (woung
male.)
  VOL. I.-3_ X